And if he desired to have it, they would sooner
venture their own persons and those of the friends they had left at
home to secure it by force, than give a sum which would probably be
more difficult to procure than to dispossess Glengarry altogether by
their doughty arms. They then left the kiln, and sent one of their
own number for their chief, who, on arriving, was strongly abused
for entertaining such an extravagant proposal and requested to leave
the place at once. This he consented to do, and went to inform
Grant that his friends would not hear of his giving such a large
sum, and that he preferred to dispense with the claim against
Glengarry altogether rather than lose the goodwill and friendship of
his retainers, who had so often endangered their lives and fortunes
in his quarrels. Meanwhile, one of the Grants who had been in the
kiln communicated to his master the nature of the conversation
which had there passed when the price asked by Grant was mentioned
to the followers of Mackenzie. This made such an impression upon
Grant and his advisers, that he prevailed upon Mackenzie, who was
about starting for home, to remain in the castle for another night.
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